Austin Oaks was originally designed and constructed in the late 1980s as senior retirement living for Wesley Woods, an affiliate of the United Methodist Church.

One of its distinctive features is the incorporation of two historic homes – the Jones-Boyd House (home of Laura Jones, the legendary educator) and the Palmer House (designed by noted architect Jonathan Bartlett).

The space at the corner of Jackson Street and Georgia Avenue, part of the original Palmer House, served as the dining room for the Austin Oaks facility – which was especially fitting in light of its previous history as home for many years to a well-known restaurant named the Knox Terrace Dining Room.

In 2000, Knox Enterprises, LLLP acquired the property and converted it to an apartment living community for all ages. The Palmer House dining room was used as a gathering space for residents and guests and eventually became a fine dining restaurant. The last restaurant closed around 2014, and the dining space sat vacant from 2014 to 2023.

In September of 2023, following an application by the owner, the Thomson City Council authorized the use of the Austin Oaks dining room and the adjacent space in the Palmer House as home to the New Thomson United Methodist Church.

Our community of faith is committed to maintaining the longstanding tradition of serving our area as a United Methodist congregation with connections throughout the world.